UK Member of Parliament Raises Concern About Restriction of Biblical Teachings

(Photo : cbcmemberphotos2477/Flickr/CC) A UK Member of Parliament Steve Double spoke against proposed restrictions on church events for children.

A conservative member of Parliament in the UK as said that children who attend Christian schools turn out as people who want to help others. According to him, children's participation in Christian events should be encouraged rather than restricted, as recently proposed by the government.

The proposed regulations will impose a compulsory registration for any out-of-school religious program for under-19 children, which will involve over six hours of instruction per week.

The restrictions may be applied through Ofsted Agency, which sets nationwide standards in education, child services and skills. It is proposed to be tasked with checking the work done by young members in the church.

MP Steve Double warned that the new restrictions will cause an "unwarranted bureaucracy," affecting thousands of volunteers.

"We should be promoting the teaching of the Bible to our children, not seeking to restrict it, because the results of that produce an awful lot of good," he was quoted as saying by The Christian Institute.

Debating at Westminster Hall, he said, "Where are the Sunday school teachers who seek to inspire and incite young people to join terrorist organisations?"

"I suggest there is no evidence whatever to impose such restrictions on Sunday schools and other church groups," he added.

Double continued, "We are in danger of applying onerous restrictions on the many to address the actions of a few. That is the wrong thing to do."

He said that teachings at the church prepare the children for socially beneficial purposes, as "they often find not just faith but a mission in life to go and serve humanity".

"That is something we should be promoting, celebrating and encouraging, not restricting," said Double.

Prime Minister David Cameroon has said that Sunday schools and summer camps will be outside the purview of the new regulations, and that the restrictive actions will be taken after suspicious activity is reported from any of the religious programs.